Encryption is a process that scrambles information into a format that unauthorized parties can not decode or utilize; 128-bit encryption is the strongest,
most secure form of encryption generally utilized in Internet browsers in North America.

What's the difference between 128- and 40-bit encryption?

SSL comes in two strengths, 40-bit and 128-bit, which refer to the length of the "session key" generated by every encrypted transaction. The longer the key, the more difficult it is to break the encryption code. 128-bit SSL encryption is the world's strongest: according to RSA Labs, it would take a trillion-trillion years to crack using today's technology.

The number of bits refers to the size of the key used to encrypt the message. Roughly speaking, 128-bit encryption is 309,485,009,821,345,068,724,781,056 times stronger than 40-bit encryption. The larger the key, the more secure your personal information.